A San Joaquin Valley sign protesting reduced deliveries of water in previous drought years. (Sasha Khokha/KQED)

Signs along San Joaquin Valley highways, lawmakers throughout the state and even singer Lady Gaga are calling attention to California’s drought and what to do about it. Friday, President Obama added his voice to the chorus, announcing emergency federal aid to farmers and communities afflicted by the state’s critical water shortage.

The crisis has led to competing water bills in Congress. The California Legislature is considering three separate water bond proposals to try to improve the state’s long-term water demands. And now, political observers say, Republicans vying for governor are also trying to use the drought to score political points against Gov. Jerry Brown, widely expected to seek re-election this year.

Mina Kim of KQED News talked to Los Angeles Times political reporter Seema Mehta on Friday about the political fallout from the drought and how it might play out in the governor’s race.